Light dimmer



. Oct. 31, 1944. w. G. GRIMES LIGHT DIYMMER Filed April 19, 1945 3 Shets-Sheet 1 I: c::;. E

Q 7 INVENTOR.

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4 w. G. GRIMES 61,7

LIGHT DIMMER Filed April 19, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .42 50 6J7 7 8 1 p313...

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Oct. 31, 1944. w GR|ME$ 7 2,361,765

LIGHT DIMMER Filed April 19, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE LIGHT DMVIER Warren G. Grimes, Urbana, Ohio Application April 19, 1943, Serial No. 483,619

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a light dimmer and has for an object :to provide an improved light dimmer particularly useful for an electric lamp. The type of electrical lamp to which this invention is applied is shown as being a lamp for projecting light on an aircraft instrument board but the principles and details of this invention are equally applicable for aheadlight, tail light, spot light, or flash light, or any other similar light where it is desired to control the amount of light that may be omitted from full brilliance to a substantially complete dimout and to any desirable degree of brilliancy in between.

With the ordinary dimming arrangements for lights, it is usually possible to provide only one degree of dimming between full brilliancy and completely out.

With this invention it becomes possible to dim the light to which it is applied to any desired degree-and to leave it at such desired degree of dimness until it is desired tochange the amount of dimming to any other desired degree.

A further feature 'of this invention is that it provides a dimming arrangement whereby the amount of dimming is spread substantially throughout the major area of the lens, through which the'light rays are projected and it serves to cut off some, but not all of the rays at the extreme outer rim of the lens in a progressive amount until the dim-out has progressed to a substantially completely out position. In this manner it distinguishes particularly from previous shutter arrangements aswell as from previous iris type arrangements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention includes the combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts hereinafter setforth, disclosed, and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of this light as applied to a lantern mounted on a support.

Fig. 2 is a sideviewof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional view longitudinally of the lantern to which the invention has been applied, showing some of the interior details.

Fig, 5 is an end view of the light showing the dimmer at the half way position.

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the dimmer in completely light out position.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the dimmer in the .full open position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view .on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a partly sectional view of the operating shell.

Fig. 10 is a partly sectional View of the lens holding ring.

Fig. 11 is an elevational View of the dimmer fingers advancing thread shell,

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the dimmer fingers.

Fig. 14 is an elevational side view of the dimmer fingers, and r Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line I 5-l5 of Fig. 13. I

There is shown at [0 the lantern to which this invention has been applied. As shown, this lantern H1 is secured by means of a bracket II to a base ring l2 so that it may be secured as by screws 13 to any suitable supported wall [4. At one end the lantern is provided with a switch arrangement consisting of buttons l4 although it will be understood that any conventional switching arrangement either in the lantern I0 or in the leads thereto from a separate power supply may equally be used. Although the lantern i0 is shown as mounted on a support II it may equally be applied to a portable lantern such as a hand flash light, as well as to fixed lanterns such as headlights, tail lights, and spot lights of an automobile or other vehicle. The lantern [0 consists of a base IS in which is mounted a lamp bulb IS in any suitable type of socket therein.

Secured on a recessed neck l6 at the lamp end of the base [5 is the dimmer finger advancing thread shell I! shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, this thread shell I1 is provided with multiple circumferentially recessed threads l8 terminating short of an outer lipped end 20 of the shell I l. The other ends of the threads t8 terminate in a reduced extended neck end! I. This neck end 2| is held on the reduced neck l6 by means of screws 22 extending through apertures 23 in the neck end 2| and secured in appropriately positioned screw holes in the base neck I6. Also secured by the same screws 22 is a ring 24 which fits over the extended. neck end 2|, thisring 24 being marked with suitable indicia such as the words .close and open and arrows pointing in the proper direc tion. Adapted to cooperate with the female threads I8 is a multiple male thread ring 25 provided with multiple male threads 26 which can advance longitudinally of the female threads 18 by being placed in position thereon over the reduced ring end 2|. Secured to the male thread ring 25 as by soldering or other permanent fastening are the dimmer fingers 21 which extend integrally through the rim 28 secured to the metal thread ring 25. The dimmer fingers 21 are substantially triangular in outline, being shaped as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. These fingers 21 are made of extremely flexible spring metal and their complementary concave surface, and will separate a progressively gradual amount as the pressure of the concave surface thereagainst is reduced. It will also be observed that each of the spring fingers 21 is separated from each other finger by a rectangular slot 30.

Surrounding the dimmer fingers 21'is a control shell 3| shown particularly in Fig. 9. This control shell is provided at one end with an internally extending flange 32, the internal diameter of the flange 32 being substantially identical with the external diameter of the ring end 2| of the female thread member l1, and is of lesser diameter than the indicating ring 24, thus serving when in removable position to be held in appropriate position against the edge of the indicating ring 24. The otherend of the control shell 3| is provided with an internal shoulder 33 and terminates in a lens holding ring receiving rim 34. Between the flange 32 and the shoulder 33 the control shell 3| is provided with a plurality of internally extended longitudinal ridges 35 while the shell 3| is flattened as at 36 between the internally extending ridges 35.

It will be noted that there are as many ridges 35 as there are slots 30 between the spring fingers 21 and correspondingly as many flattened surfaces 36 as there are spring fingers 21. The ridges 35 extend slightly into the slots 30 to prevent rotary movement of the spring fingers 21 relative to the control shell 3| but permit relative longitudinal movement while at the same time the ridges 35 guide this longitudinal movement.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a lens holding ring 31 of such a diameter that it will just fit into the rim 34 or shell 3| and is provided with an internally extending flange 3B of sufiicient diameter to abut against the convex surface of the lens 40.

An externally projecting lip 4| is provided on the outer edge of the ring to abut against the end of the shell rim 34.

In operation, the lens end of the lantern is assembled as shown in Fig. 4. In assembling the dimmer of this invention, the spring fingers 21 are placed over the female thread members H. A temporary cylinder of paper may be used if necessary to hold the spring fingers 21 openuntil they can be placed over the neck end 2| and cause the male threads 26 to cooperate with the female threads |8, causing the free ends of the spring fingers 21 to project beyond the female thread lip 20. Next, the assembled female thread and fingers are inserted into the control shell 3| with slots 30 in alignment with ridges 35 until the flange 32 of control shell 3| abuts against the shoulder at the end of the female thread ring 2|.

The indicator ring 24 is then placed over the female thread ring 2| and the screws 22 inserted through the properly aligned screw receiving apertures into the base l5. After the lamp I9 is in position in the lantern l0, the concave lens 40 is inserted through the open end of the control shell 3| and held in position by sliding the lens holding ring 31 into the end of the shell 3|.

While this ring 31 may be held frictionally in place if desired, suitable securing means such as a screw 42 may be threaded therethrough to positively prevent accidental separation.

The amount of dimout is controlled by merely rotating the control shell 3| relative to the base l5 for it will be obvious that as the control shell 3| is rotated back and forth, the male thread member 25 is likewise rotated causing the 00- operating male thread 26 to move the spring fingers 21 longitudinally of the control shell against the concave surface of the lens 4!]. The longitudinal movement of the fingers will be in proportion to the movement of the shell, thus advancing and holding the fingers at any position to provide any degree of dimness, or blackout as graphically illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and '7.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved there'against.

2. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means includng a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved thereagainst, and means for moving said annulus with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface.

3. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved thereagainst, means for moving said annulus with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means providing the axial movernent of said annulus and its fingers.

4.. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardlytoward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward eachother as they are moved thereagainst, meansl for moving said annulus "ass-mes with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread means including a spirally movable part and a part that is non-movable "relative to the lantern to thereby provide the axial movement of said annulus and its fingers.

'5. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved thereagainst, means for moving said annulus with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread means including a spirally movable part and a part that is non-movable relative to the lantern thereby providing the axial movement of said annulus and its extending fingers, and a manually operable dimmer control means for causing movement of said cooperating thread means parts relative to each other.

6. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are lon itudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved thereagainst, means for moving said annulus with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread means including a spirally movable part and a part that is non-movable relative to the lantern thereby providing the axial movement of said annulus and its extending fingers, and a manually operable dimmer control means for causing movement of said cooperating thread means parts relative to each other, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said flexible fingers, said shell having trackways to guide said fingers in their axial movement.

'7. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively bending said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable to cause said fingers to bend inwardly toward each other as they are moved thereagainst, means for moving said annulus with its extending fingers longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread means including a spirally movable part and a part that is non-movable relative to the lantern thereby providing the axial movement of said annulus and its extending fingers, a manually iillO movement of said cooperating thread means parts relative to each other, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said flexible fingers, said shell having trackways to guide said fingers in theiraxial movement, said shell being rotatably mounted relative to the lantern whereby rotation of the shell relative to the lantern provides the foregoing movements.

'8. A dimmer for alantern comprising an annu'lus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively curving said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable, meansfor moving said annulus longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lenssurface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread means including a spirally'movable part and a part that is non-movable relative to the lantern, a dimmer control means, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said fiexible fingers, said shell being rotatably mounted relative to the lantern, and guide means projecting interiorly of said shell and cooperating with said flexible fingers permitting longitudinal movement of said fingers relative to said shell but preventing rotary movement of said fingers relative to said shell.

9. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, means for progressively curving said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are longitudinally movable, means for moving said annulus longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, said cooperating thread mean including a spirally movable part and a part that is non-movable relative to the lantern, a dimmer control means, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said flexible fingers, said shell being rotatably mounted relative to the lantern, guide means projecting interiorly of said shell and cooperating with said flexible fingers permitting longitudinal movement of said fingers relative to said shell but preventing rotary movement of said fingers relative to said shell, and a lens, of which said concave lens surface forms a part, mounted on said shell for rotation therewith.

10. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible, wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, and means for progressively curving said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are pressed, a dimmer control means, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said flexible fingers, said shell being rotatably mounted relative to the lantern, and a lens, of which said concave lens surface forms a part, mounted on said shell for rotation therewith, and means on said shell cooperating with said flexible fingers permitting longitudinal movement of said fingers relative to said shell against said concave lens surface but preventing rotary movement of said fingers relative to said shell.

11. A dimmer for a lantern comprising an annulus, a plurality of flexible wedge-shaped fingers extending from said annulus, and means for prothe axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means includinga concave lens surface against which said fingers are pressed, and means for moving said annulus 1ongitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, and a dimmer control means, said dimmer control .gressively curving said fingers inwardly toward progressively curving said fingers inwardly toward the axis of said annulus across the path of light from the lantern, said means including a concave lens surface against which said fingers are pressed, and means for moving said annulus longitudinally of its axis toward and away from said concave lens surface, said moving means including a cooperating thread means, and a dimmer control means, said dimmer control means including a shell encompassing said flexible fingers, said shell being rotatably mounted relative to the lantern, and guide means projecting interiorly of said shell and cooperating with said flexible fingers permitting longitudinal movement of said fingers relative to said shell but preventing rotary movement of said fingers relative to said shell. 

